Busy Bee

Gieger, pictured here in Barcelona in May, holds the claim of being the only female ever to compete in the prestigious Motocross of Nations event. She raced for Puerto Rico in both 2007 and 2008.

Gieger, pictured here in Barcelona in May, holds the claim of being the only female ever to compete in the prestigious Motocross of Nations event. She raced for Puerto Rico in both 2007 and 2008.

Brett Wilhelm/ESPN

5 of 16

Double rodeo

Hight made history when she landed the first-ever double backside alley-oop rodeo in a halfpipe competition at the 2013 X Games in Aspen, Colo. -- a feat not even Shaun White can claim yet.

Hight made history when she landed the first-ever double backside alley-oop rodeo in a halfpipe competition at the 2013 X Games in Aspen, Colo. -- a feat not even Shaun White can claim yet.

Martin Schoeller for ESPN The Magazine

6 of 16

Elena Hight

"Your body is all you have in this lifetime, so taking care of it and honoring it is a huge part of my life. As an athlete, you ask so much of your body all the time, so what you do to get that response is important."

"Your body is all you have in this lifetime, so taking care of it and honoring it is a huge part of my life. As an athlete, you ask so much of your body all the time, so what you do to get that response is important."

Nancy Weisman

7 of 16

Tarah Gieger

Gieger keeps the shoot light by making funny faces. A good sense of humor helps during a long day like this one!

Gieger keeps the shoot light by making funny faces. A good sense of humor helps during a long day like this one!

Sebas Romero/Red Bull Content Pool

8 of 16

Sheer Endurance

Having no prior endurocross racing experience, Gieger was invited to race Women's Enduro X at X Games in 2011, and she finished second. Here, she races to a fourth-place finish in the Enduro X event at X Games Barcelona in May.

Having no prior endurocross racing experience, Gieger was invited to race Women's Enduro X at X Games in 2011, and she finished second. Here, she races to a fourth-place finish in the Enduro X event at X Games Barcelona in May.

Brett Wilhelm/ESPN

9 of 16

Contender

Hight is one of the few women to have beaten reigning SuperPipe champion Kelly Clark these past few years, and with her new trick under her belt, she looks to be Clark's main competition going into the Sochi Olympics.

Hight is one of the few women to have beaten reigning SuperPipe champion Kelly Clark these past few years, and with her new trick under her belt, she looks to be Clark's main competition going into the Sochi Olympics.

Nancy Weisman

10 of 16

Tarah Gieger

Photographer Peter Hapak tries to get in a few more shots before an afternoon downpour starts.

Photographer Peter Hapak tries to get in a few more shots before an afternoon downpour starts.

Kristen Schaefer Geisler

11 of 16

Elena Hight

Before the shoot, Hight offers free admission to the gun show.

Before the shoot, Hight offers free admission to the gun show.

Nancy Weisman

12 of 16

Tarah Gieger

Hapak gives the three-time X Games medalist a peek at her wheelie shot.

Hapak gives the three-time X Games medalist a peek at her wheelie shot.

Kristen Schaefer Geisler

13 of 16

Elena Hight

Photographer Martin Schoeller goes through some of the photos with Hight during a break.

Photographer Martin Schoeller goes through some of the photos with Hight during a break.

Chris Tedesco/ESPN

14 of 16

Silver Platters

Gieger at X Games L.A. in 2012 en route to winning her third Women's Moto X Racing silver medal. This year is packed for her, with four X Games Enduro races and one Moto X Racing competition.

Gieger at X Games L.A. in 2012 en route to winning her third Women's Moto X Racing silver medal. This year is packed for her, with four X Games Enduro races and one Moto X Racing competition.

Martin Schoeller for ESPN The Magazine

15 of 16

Elena Hight

"Fear still gets the better of me sometimes. But when you're just enjoying yourself and living in the moment, you're not thinking about what could go wrong. Fear can be a good motivator, but for me, it's realizing your own potential and really just going for it and jumping into the fire."

"Fear still gets the better of me sometimes. But when you're just enjoying yourself and living in the moment, you're not thinking about what could go wrong. Fear can be a good motivator, but for me, it's realizing your own potential and really just going for it and jumping into the fire."

Peter Hapak for ESPN The Magazine

16 of 16

Tarah Gieger

Hair and makeup artist Karen Cleary gave Gieger a softer look to contrast her hard body.

Hair and makeup artist Karen Cleary gave Gieger a softer look to contrast her hard body.